The Kremlin said on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had sent US President Donald Trump a message about his proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine via Trump's special envoy and that there were grounds for "cautious optimism".

Kremlin says Putin sent Trump a message on Ukraine ceasefire idea, talks of 'cautious optimism'

South Korea’s semiconductor exports to China plunged last month, deepening concerns about a cooling in global demand already threatened by US tariffs, as Washington steps up its restrictions on technology supplies to Beijing.

South Korea’s chip exports to China sink as US controls tighten

Traditionally, earning a master’s degree meant making significant sacrifices — taking time off work, managing long commutes to campus or juggling coursework with a packed schedule.

Advance your career with a master’s — on your terms

Oil prices surged on Monday, US stock futures slid while those in Asia charged higher as investors took stock of the contrasting fortunes between the US and the rest of the world.

Oil prices jump; optimism over China's consumption stimulus boosts Asia shares

The US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is due for a rate decision on Wednesday (March 19), with most economists surveyed by Bloomberg projecting the Federal Funds Target Rate (FFTR) range will be kept unchanged at between 4.25% and 4.5%.

The Week Ahead: Fed rate decision, Malaysia’s February external trade and CPI statistics in focus

RM2bil sales target for 2025

Penang-based biomass material manufacturer HHRG Bhd on Monday announced that its new shareholder, Digital Trustees Bhd, has called for an extraordinary general meeting to remove its board of directors and replace them with three new directors.

In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the company said it received a written requisition from Digital Trustees to call for the meeting to vote on the removal of all the company’s directors, including its executive chairman Datuk Paduka Ammar Datuk Shaik Mahmood Naim.

HHRG’s new shareholder calls for EGM to remove board

Valuations of Malaysian stocks have turned more attractive following recent selldown though upside may be capped amid external uncertainties, Apex Securities said on Monday.

Apex Securities says KLCI valuation is now attractive, but sees little upside amid external risks

An ambitious campaign to revive Thailand’s battered stock market is falling flat, as entrenched pessimism about the economy accelerates a foreign funds exodus.

World’s biggest stock rout deepens as Thai market rescue falters

What is a bailout? Cambridge dictionary: To help a person or organisation that is in difficulty, usually by giving or lending them money.

Frankly Speaking: A bailout, even if justified, is still a bailout

Russia will seek "ironclad" guarantees in any peace deal on Ukraine that Nato nations will exclude Kyiv from membership and that Ukraine will remain neutral, a Russian deputy foreign minister said in remarks published on Monday.

Russia demands 'ironclad' guarantees in peace treaty with Ukraine

Li Shufu, the billionaire behind one of the world’s largest automobile empires, has been doing some soul-searching.

Geely billionaire goes on a cost-cutting spree to catch rivals

Asia’s top performing currency last year is set for a bout of weakness as traders brace for a higher risk of an interest rate-cut amid trade tensions.

Ringgit bears emerge as traders weigh a rate cut in Malaysia

Oil prices surged on Monday, US stock futures slid while those in Asia charged higher as investors took stock of the contrasting fortunes between the US and the rest of the world.

KUALA LUMPUR (March 16): The "major reshuffle" of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) Central Executive Committee (CEC) was aimed at giving more leaders the opportunity to showcase their abilities, said party secretary general Anthony Loke Siew Fook.

DAP leadership’s 'major reshuffle' aims to showcase more party leaders, says Loke

SHAH ALAM (March 16): DAP&nbsp;hopes that the government would amend the Federal Constitution within the next two years, to limit the tenure of the prime minister to 10 years.

Loke: DAP wants Federal Constitution to be amended to limit PM’s tenure to 10 years

PARIS (March 16): The stationing of peacekeeping troops in Ukraine, as proposed by Britain and France as part of a ceasefire agreement with Russia, is a question for Kyiv to decide and not Moscow, French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview.

Not for Russia to decide on peacekeepers in Ukraine, Macron says

An anxious sense of wait-and-see may emerge from central banks in the coming week, in their first collective assessment of how President Donald Trump’s trade policies are impacting the world economy.

Trump’s trade salvos test nerves of central bankers

KUALA LUMPUR (March 16): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged the Economy Ministry to prioritise 10 key projects in Negeri Sembilan, particularly those related to flood mitigation.

Anwar urges focus on key projects in Negeri Sembilan, including Tuanku Jaafar Hospital 2

KUALA LUMPUR, (March 16): PKR information chief Datuk Fahmi Fadzil announced his candidacy on Sunday for the party’s vice-president post in the party elections in May. &nbsp;

Fahmi to contest PKR vice-president post

SINGAPORE (March 16): Singapore has established a taskforce to help Singaporeans and local businesses seize opportunities and reap the benefits of the upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link.

Singapore sets up taskforce to seize opportunities from RTS Link

ATLANTA/BENGALURU (March 16): Tornadoes killed at least 33 people across several states in the US&nbsp;Midwest and Southeast on Saturday (March 15) night, CNN reported.

Tornadoes strike US South, killing 33 people amid rising risk, CNN says

An ambitious campaign to revive Thailand’s battered stock market is falling flat, as entrenched pessimism about the economy accelerates a foreign funds exodus.

Valuations of Malaysian stocks have turned more attractive following recent selldown though upside may be capped amid external uncertainties, Apex Securities said on Monday.

China will take steps to revive consumption by boosting people’s incomes, according to the official Xinhua News Agency, as part of a plan that adds to recent pledges by the government to support demand in an economy threatened by Donald Trump’s tariffs.

China maps out plan to raise incomes and boost consumption

KUALA LUMPUR (March 16): A civil servant was arrested in Ops Outlander, an operation targeting a syndicate involved in late birth registration, on suspicion of accepting bribes ranging from RM10,000 to RM15,000 for each birth certificate issued.

Ops Outlander: Civil servant held for receiving bribes of up to RM15,000 for birth certificates

Penang-based biomass material manufacturer HHRG Bhd on Monday announced that its new shareholder, Digital Trustees Bhd, has called for an extraordinary general meeting to remove its board of directors and replace them with three new directors.

In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the company said it received a written requisition from Digital Trustees to call for the meeting to vote on the removal of all the company’s directors, including its executive chairman Datuk Paduka Ammar Datuk Shaik Mahmood Naim.

The UK is set to begin trade talks with the Philippines after the Asian nation agreed to lift an import ban on British beef and poultry products.

UK poised for trade talks with Philippines after beef ban lifted

KUCHING (March 16): The interpretation of the law, including the quota of parliamentary seats in Sabah and Sarawak and the continental shelf, is expected to be finalised at the Malaysia Agreement 1963 Implementation Action Council &nbsp;(MTPMA63) this May.

MA63: Interpretation of parliamentary seat quota, continental shelf to be finalised in May — Fadillah

3R issues: Police to submit investigation paper to AGC on Monday&nbsp;

3R issue: Police to submit investigation paper to AGC on Monday 

Oil prices opened about 1% higher on Monday after the US vowed to keep attacking Yemen's Houthis until the Iran-aligned group ends its assaults on shipping.

Andrew Osborn & Gleb Stolyarov

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Andrew Osborn & Gleb Stolyarov

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